Dr. John S. Waldrip is the founder of Classical Baptist Press, established in 2018. With 47 years of experience as a pastor in two Southern California congregations, Dr. Waldrip has dedicated his career to Gospel preaching, biblical evangelism, and advocating for the transformation of the depraved sinner by the Holy Spirit.

 

His work through Classical Baptist Press focuses on resisting modern theological trends and fads, emphasizing the classical Baptist commitment to the Great Commission, local Church accountability, and the establishment of new congregations.

 

Through his publications, he aims to educate and encourage believers to live out their faith through evangelism and the dissemination of Biblical writings.

Dr. Downing's journey into ministry began after high school, working as a commercial deep-sea diver and construction worker before converting to Christ in 1961. Called to ministry in 1963, he studied at Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO, and pastored in Lompoc, California.

 

He continued his education in Texas, teaching for three years after graduation. Back in California, he taught at Sacramento Baptist College and pastored a small church. In 1974, he moved to the Bay Area and pastored one church for 20 years.

 

He then founded another church and pastored it for 28 years, while also establishing a small seminary. Health issues forced his retirement in 1981, but he's continued as a part-time preacher for the elderly and at a rescue mission. He is also a prolific author.

Samuel Sangram Rai is the son and grandson of Gurkha fighters. A Maoist revolutionary fighter from the age of 14, seeking to overthrow the royal family of Nepal, he was introduced to the Savior as a young man by a poor Christian couple while recovering from wounds received in combat.

 

Subsequently called to the gospel ministry and trained by Dr. Peter Masters at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, his pioneering evangelistic and church planting efforts among the Nepali people in and around Nepal have resulted in him founding 350+ Baptist churches, with approximately a thousand Baptist churches founded by the churches he planted.

 

His commitment to the Great Commission to make disciples is central to his efforts to reach the lost, with more than 1,775 congregations involved in his discipleship network on four continents and several island nations.

David Gay was born in 1940 and came to faith at sixteen. A year later, he began to preach.  He was a mathematics teacher for 25 years before taking up full-time responsibilities as a Reformed Baptist teaching elder for 20 years.

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David began his Christian life as an Arminian Baptist but eventually came to a Reformed understanding of the faith. While at university, and for a short time after, he became a part of the Open Brethren. In 1977, he and his wife Jean, along with three other couples, formed a Reformed Baptist church of which he became an elder. Over time, through his expository preaching in Hebrews and Galatians, as well as through extensive research and stimulating conversation, he began to take a New-Covenant position. He continued with an itinerant preaching ministry until 2025, when he was in his mid-80s, but still gives some attention to his insightful and discerning writing ministry (davidhjgay.com).

 

He and his late wife have three adult children, all of whom are believers and married, one of whom is engaged in a regular preaching and teaching ministry.  David has nine grandchildren and, at the latest count, seven great-grandchildren.

Conley Owens is both a pastor and a software engineer, but hopes one day to do the work of a pastor full-time. He is the husband of one wife and the father of nine children. Among other hobbies he enjoys cooperative games of all varieties. He has been a member of SVRBC since 2010 and a pastor since 2019.

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Conley was saved at an early age when he learned that blaming others for his sins didn’t resolve his guilt. Instead, he trusted in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and found true forgiveness. He discovered Reformed theology in college after accidentally getting involved with a cult and realizing he needed a better grasp on what the Bible teaches to keep such things from happening again.

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Conley holds a Master of Divinity from The Log College & Seminary and is the author of The Dorean Principle: A Biblical Response to the Commercialization of Christianity

Dan Nelson is a distinguished author and historian known for his extensive work on Christian history and Baptist studies. He has authored several notable books, including “Nelson’s Notes on Christian History,” “Baptist Revival 2.0,” and “Early Baptists: A Comparative History of the Anabaptist and English Baptist Movements.” His writings often delve into the theological and historical aspects of the Baptist faith, providing both scholarly insight and engaging narratives.

 

Dan holds advanced degrees in theology, including a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy from California Graduate School of Theology. He has served as pastor of three Baptist churches and has been actively involved in theological education, serving on the Board of Trustees at Southwestern Baptist and as National Alumni Chairman for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

In addition to his theological works, Dan has written “Game on All the Time,” a humorous memoir about growing up in the home of a legendary football coach. He resides in Texas with his wife, Janice, and their two daughters, Krista and Kimberly.

Gerhard Raske found salvation at 14 in the Salvation Army on November 19, 1947, was baptized by Dr. Clearwaters in1952, and became a member of the Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

He studied Engineering at the University of Minnesota and attended various theological institutions, including the Institute of Holy Land Studies, where he took part in an archaeological dig in Jerusalem.

 

He also joined geological and paleontological field trips the U.S. and Canada and engaged in Baptist History studies in the UK. Ordained in 1963, he holds.A., M.Div., Th.M., and Th.D. degrees. His ministry includes pastoring, teaching at several Baptist colleges, editing "Dakota Baptist Sentinel," and preaching across the U.S., Canada, and India.

 

He has served in leadership roles within Baptist Associations and as a missionary.